The Xbox One will require a periodic internet check to authenticate games, sources within Microsoft have reportedly told Polygon.

It is also said that the console will not require a fee to play used games, as previously reported.

According to the site, Microsoft is still debating the issue internally. Executives are also reportedly discussing the confusion surrounding Xbox One’s relationship with the internet and used games.

An official FAQ on Microsft’s website claims that the Xbox One does not “have to be always connected, but does require a connection to the Internet.”

Microsoft’s Phil Harrison, talking to Kotaku, claimed that the upcoming system would require an internet check every 24 hours, although Microsoft later told Polygon that this was only one scenario among others being discussed.

Using an encryption code on the game disc, Xbox One will authenticate the game for use on that specific console. This code, which is stored on the hard drive, will be regularly checked via internet connection.

If the same disc is installed and authenticated on another system, the first install will be deactivated until the disc is used to re-authenticate it.

About the issue of used games, Microsoft’s Larry Hryb, also known as Major Nelson, wrote on his blog: “The ability to trade in and resell games is important to gamers and to Xbox. Xbox One is designed to support the trade in and resale of games.

“Reports about our policies for trade in and resale are inaccurate and incomplete. We will disclose more information in the near future.”

Apparently number 4 means death in feng shui though (learned about it from Sleeping Dogs.)
;P

zerolegacy0

Four is actually unlucky number in Japan also, so much so that hospitals avoid using it as a floor number there. Funny that it ended up being Sony’s lucky number.

MogCakes

Lol cultural superstitions are always fun to see. Many buildings don’t have a 13th floor here, or if they do it’s used for housing air conditioning units, etc.

Budgiecat

Death to XBone

coax

I don’t know much about feng shui, but it’s considered unlucky because four (四) and death (死) have the same pronunciation.

nano_desu

Sony always use english reading for numbers in their console names. Like PS “tsu” and PS “suri”. Guess PS4 is safe from superstitions.

AdamBoy64

That’s fantastic. Simple, yet powerful.
Brilliant.

http://www.facebook.com/aly.hesham.7 Aly Hesham

wow…Incredible ad.

Budgiecat

lol

GhostNomad

So essentially they announce one thing, meet a huge backlash from future customers, “oh, guys, you totally misinterpreted that”. I wonder if Sony’s stock is still rising.

“An official FAQ on Microsft’s website claims that the Xbox One does not ‘have to be always connected, but does require a connection to the Internet.'” -> “Your TV doesn’t HAVE to be always plugged into the outlet, but it does require electricity if you want to actually use it.”

“The ability to trade in and resell games is important to gamers and to Xbox. Xbox One is designed to support the trade in and resale of games.”

Typical damage control PR. Notice how it doesn’t say if there is a fee or not.

Elvick

If there is a fee, then that makes the value pretty much worthless when trading it in/reselling it.

It’s literally just a worthless disc then. Until you pay to make it “work”. Even though you already bought the stupid thing.

https://www.teepublic.com/user/ECM ECM

Spin , spin, spin, MS!

GetOffMy_Lawn

Sorry Microsoft, the damage is done. You should have had a definitive answer to this at the unveiling. There is way too much bad press for you to recover from.

ギャビン

Death star mode slightly deactivating?

Budgiecat

lol someone needs to make a .gif of a Giant XBox sphere logo as the Death Star and DS3 controllers flying in the destroy it like X-Wing fighters…

Aiddon

…can we JUST get a straight answer from MS officially? All this muddled news is just plain annoying and if they just CONFIRMED some things then maybe this mess wouldn’t have gotten so bad. Instead, it seems like they just gave Nintendo and Sony free sales.

rainelee

It’s a little too late for amends, MS. /smh

http://twitter.com/kazumalynx Zero

We expressed our disgust with most of the used game stuff, perhaps they are trying to back off it a little?

Either way, this is all still very confusing. Stop giving vague answers. One person says this, someone else says this, others say it hasn’t been decided, etc.

We want clear answers. When you continue to dance around the questions, you plant doubt in most everyone’s mind. It becomes easy to think that the truth is ugly, which is why you don’t want to tell us.

It’s not like doing away with the used game fee is going to erase all the negativity surrounding the Xbox One. Does it help? Yes, of course it does.

It’s still just a small step. There are so many other problems here. I won’t even get off the used game problem.

Let me ask this question – If the Xbox One will require a periodic internet check to authenticate games, what happens if someone decides to go on vacation for a week? What if during this time, they don’t have internet access, and suddenly the Xbox asks to verify the game they are playing? Maybe it even asks to verify all the games they brought with them?

What happens then? Do all of the games they brought become unplayable? Wait! I forgot! Apparently — the Xbox One has to connect to the internet at least once a day. This poor soul will have problems doing anything on the Xbox One without internet in a days time. Random game authentication checks won’t really matter in this case.

The answer is – The user will need to connect to the internet while on vacation regularly in order to use the Xbox One.

Do you see this Microsoft? This is how you go about answering questions. You should try it sometime.

Sevyne

They are still continuing to give conflicting responses. By this point they really should already have this kind of stuff nailed down. I really do think they know exactly how this stuff will function and know that what they are doing is dirty as hell, which is why they aren’t spilling the beans. When someone can’t seem to get their story straight it’s usually because they are hiding something much worse.

Amaterasu

Let me make sure I have this straight:

Basically you purchase a game for Xbox One, put the disc in for the first time and this encryption code is stored on your hard drive to authenticate your particular copy of the game. This means that the copy you bought is linked not only to your account, but to your console. THEN the console will use the internet connection that is MUST have, to verify that your copy is authentic.

So it does not REQUIRE an always on internet connection but must connect at least once a day. So basically it must be connected all the time because I don’t know anyone who is going to repeatedly connect their console to the internet manually everyday JUST to do that.

Microsoft “We want you to think of the Xbox One like you’re in a relationship with a really needy girlfriend who needs you to constantly check up on her to make sure that she is OK… Oh yeah make sure she doesn’t find you with other games you know how she gets.”

Budgiecat

She’s a stalker

bldudas

I know you should never assume anything, but if Microsoft doesn’t give a clear answer, then people are going to assume the worse. It’s what happens when a simple question gets danced around.

fyi1191

Now I can’t bring the console along when travelling.
Internet connection is a MUST is a stupid idea.

Nitraion

They sure really like twisting words…

Xbox One does not “have to be always connected, but does require a connection to the Internet.”upcoming system would require an internet check every 24 hours

Using an encryption code on the game disc, Xbox One will authenticate the game for use on that specific console. This code, which is stored on the hard drive, will be regularly checked via internet connection.

Interviewer: So if it requires an internet connect and does random authentication checks on games what happens when people go on long trips and wanna take their console with them and don’t have access to internet for an extended period of time?

Microsoft: Well theres a system set up that allows one to purchase a download that lets one bypass the authentication codes for a certain amount of time with varying prices depending on how long you will need the bypass for.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Bob-Obb/100001994017630 Jimmy Dean

People take consoles on trips, wtf?

MogCakes

They do. I used to do it all the time with my PS2. Before I got lazy anyway (and before I had a PSP/DS).

Bryce Blalex Douglas

I hope you’re being sarcastic lol
But Yep I’m on vacation now and have my PS3 with me and enjoy being able to play it without worrying about if my hotel has Internet

HeatPhoenix

I only took it with me when I stayed at family’s for a while. But to a hotel? Really?

Adol Christin

Even MS is confused :P

xMCXx

They know they fucked up and are now struggling to find a solution apparently or won’t spill the beans because they can’t change it, anymore.
One can only hope Sony learns from this.

Namekaze_Minato

Microsoft is self-depreciating themselves at this point; sony is gonna capitalize on this by literally doing nothing.

SaveTheDay

@ Microsoft : I find your lack of clarity disturbing.

Budgiecat

Did you say that with a Darth Vader voice?

Learii

Xbox One does not “have to be always connected, but does require a connection to the Internet.” huh what they mean by that?

Calvin Chikelue

Supposedly, It needs to connect to the internet at least once a day yet not all day.

Calvin Chikelue

A console that’s supposed to be the one thing you need and to unite the living room, this seems like the most unnecessarily complex console.

asch999

Hum..Nothing in their statement implies there are no fee on used games. They are just dodging the question

artemisthemp

So let me get this right.
You can play a game without disc, but it will close down, if you don’t have the disc in the drive, when the re-authentication happens

Namekaze_Minato

if they could only refocus all that effort into delivering better gaming experiences and allowing independent developers to publish their games on xbox live; they would have secured a position in the next gen console cycle.

http://www.psvitadirect.com/ Kurisu Makise

Corporate backpedal at its finest. Get it together MS, E3’s in 15 days.

Willgaea

So if I don’t have internet can I still play my offline game or would my X1 brick till it gets online? Also I haven’t payed for Live in 3 years but I can still play offiline games would that be possible on the X1. And as a follow up if im not online can I use my X1 to still change my TV channels. I really need a answer especially to my last question. I’m looking forward to yelling at my TV like how people yell at the actors in the movies.

DarthBrian

I don’t believe a word Polygon says.

DenjinJ

It’s not the used fee I have a problem with – it’s the authentication. It would mean the console is not self-sufficient to play its own games. That means once it’s no longer supported, it’s no longer functional. A system like that can, and should die as far as I’m concerned. I hope anyone who tries such a thing fails hard and never tries it again if they survive.

Trent

My 360 was robbed when my house was burgled, But my 50+ games were still there, if this happened to me with an xbox one then all my games would be useless by no fault of my own! I think sony or nintendo will be getting my money this generation!